Automatic hackling-machine.



J. A. MoKEB. AUTOMATIC HAGKLING MACHINE.

7 APPLICATION FILED 38.23, 1911. v 1,084,652. Patented Jan. 20, 1914.

6 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WITNESSES INVENTOR Q7 macs czZ77Z e COLUMBIA FLANOGRXPH CO., WAsmNulON. D. c.

J. A. MoKEE. AUTOMATIC HAGKLING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED 311.23, 1911.

1,084,652 Patented Jan. 20, 1914.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Figilfl. wnutssgzs: INVENTOR COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0.,wAsHlNuToN u c J. A. McKEE.

AUTOMATIC HAOKLING MACHINE.

APPL'IOATIDN FILED T11R23, 1911.

1,084,652. Patented Jan. 20, 1914.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES INVENITOR J. A. McKEE.

AUTOMATIC HAOKLING MACHINE...

APPLICATION FILED FEB.23, 1911.

1,084,652, Patent ed Jan. 20, 1914.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

WITNESSES INVENTOF! 77Z $6c773i76 COLUMBM PLANOGRAPH CO WA SHI-NGTON. D. c.

J. A. MOKEE.

AUTOMATIC HAGKLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 313.23, 1911.

1,084,652. Patented Jan. 20, 1914.

a sums-sum 5.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES ALEXANDER MGKEE, OF LISBURN, IRELAND, ASSIGNOR TO'J. AND T. M.

GREEVES, LIMITED; 015 BELFAST, IRELAND, AND YORK STREET FLAX SPIN- NING COMPANY, LIMITED, 0F BELFAST, IRELAND.

AUTOMATIC HACKLING-MACHINE.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES ALEXANDER MoKEE, a British subject, residing at Lisburn, Ireland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Hackling-Hachines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic hackling machines for flax and other long staple fibers such as described in the specifications of Patents 662117 and 775352 and is designed to dispense with the cross channels and turn tables by which the fiax holders were transferred from one machine to the other and provide improved mechanism for transferring the flax holders and also for opening the holders for changing the stricks of flax therein.

It consists essentially of apparatus comprising a number of carriers for the holders mounted upon cross or radial arms of a star wheel, annular ring, or equivalent device centrally fitted between the main channels whereby the flax holders are transferred from one machine to the other in a circular or semi-circular path and also in apparatus by which the holders can be unclamped and re-clamped.

The invention will be fully described with reference to the acompanying drawings forming part of the specification.

Figure 1. is an elevation of the transfer apparatus at the filling end of the machine. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of same. Fig. 3

is an elevation of the transfer apparatus at the changing end of the machine. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the clips employed in'con-s nection with the holders in position to engage with the holder pawls. Fig. 6. is a similar view with the clips engaged and the pawls released. Fig. 7. is a sectional detail of the rod which carries the clips. Fig. 8. is a sectional elevation of mechanism for turning the flax holders at the filling endfor convenience of filling. Fig. 9. is a section of same. Fig. 10. is an enlarged detail of mechanism for turning star wheel locking it and cam for imparting a downward movement to the rod. Figs. 11 and l1 are details of the cams for lifting the ram and,

also, of the device for locking the pulling- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 23, 1911.

Patented Jan. 20, 1914. Serial No. 610,289.

through levers and operating same. Fig. 12, is a side View of same.

The gables A and A, main channels C and flax holders B of the machine are all of well known construction the holders being of the type described in Barbour and McKees English Patent No. 15622 of, 1908 and shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and it is with reference to its application to this construction of holder that the invention will be described. Between the gables A and A at both the filling end and changing end of the machines is mounted a rotary transfer appliance D preferably in the form of a wheel or ring D with a number of cross arms or radiating arms 0! (Z (Z 6Z the'wheel being free to rotate on a stud E afiixed to a bracket 6. The arms cl(l* are similar and at the end of each a carrier gripper or slide d is fitted to receive the flax holder B from the main channel of one machine and transfer it after manipulation to the main channel of the other machine.

To the hub or center of the transfer appliance D, a ratchet wheel, or notched plate 6 is fitted provided with four notches (one corresponding to each cross arm) with which a pawl e engages. The pawl e is carried by and pivoted to the end of a rocking lever '6 mounted to oscillate upon the stud E.

The rocking lever e is operated and'controlled by a cam F through a lever f to V which it is connected by a link f. The cam F intermittently imparts a series of quarter revolutions to the transfer appliance D to bring the cross arms cl (Z d d successively into the several positions which they assume relatively to the machine and allow them to remain at rest or dwell in those positions. In the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings the arm d is opposite the top position of the main channel C in readiness to receive a holder B into the transfer carrier d; the arm d is 1n posltlon opposite the mechanism for unclamping the holder B for the purpose of changing or re adjusting the strick of flax therein and the arm (Z is opposite the top position of the other channel C in readiness to deliver the holder B from the transfer carrier at to the main channel.

To perform the operation of unclamping the holders it is necessary to compress the holder springs b, in order to release the pressure of the central post 6 on the pawls Z); and to move the pawls I) out of engagement with post 6 To compress the holder springs b and to operate for separating the holder plates there is employed a vertical ram G which is mounted in guides or bearings g g placed below the vertical position of the carrier of the transfer appliance D, the ram being raised and lowered twice for each complete lift of the hackling machine by a double throw cam g acting through the rocking lever 9 link 9*, bell crank lever g and a. link 9 at the filling end of the machine as shown in Fig. 1; or through the rocking lever g and the link g. at the changing end of the machine as shown in Fig. 3. In both instances, lever is mounted on a suitable fixed pivot. Said ram is raised the first time immediately on the completion of a quarter revolution of the transfer appliance D, for the purpose of compressing the holder springs 29 to allow of the pawls 6 being disengaged from the post 2) as shown in Fig. 6, to allow of the holder plates being separated. As soon as the pawls Z) are moved out of engagement with the post Z) by mechanism to be afterward described, the ram G is lowered by the action of the cam g and carries with it the lower plate of the holder B thus opening the holder B at the filling end for the purpose of removing the finished strick of flax and replacing it with a rough strick and at the changing end for the purpose of allowing the flax to be drawn through the required distance to adjust the strick for hackling the second half in the second machine. When the re-placement at the filling end, or the drawing through atthe changing end is completed the ram G is again raised to bring together the two plates of the holder and to compress the holder springs Z) so that the pawls Z) can be moved inward to engage with the central post 6 and the ram G is again lowered, leaving the holder clamped, with the flax in position, by the action of the holder springs 72, the pawls Z) and the post 6 The holder pawls Z) are disengaged from post 19 by the action of a cam H through rods h and spring clips 71%. These clips h are attached to the outer ends of the rods it one of which is fitted to each arm of the transfer appliance D. The rods 72, are fitted each with a cushion spring b and are pressed inward toward the central stud of the transfer appliance D by springs 72?. Each rod is guided at its outer end by a bearing h against which the spring h presses, and at its inner end is pivoted to a lever h on the front of the arms (Z (Z (Z (Z*. The lever h is keyed to a stud it which carries a second lever 72, at the back of the arm, and the lever 72 is provided at its end with a roller k As each arm cl (5 (Z (i approaches its lower vertical position the roller 7L3 engages with cam H and presses the rod 7t outward against the spring h". The rod it has in the first place a longer traverse than the spring clips h as the latter engage with the holder pawls b which cannot be disengaged until the holder springs b are compressed and this results in the spring 7L5 being compressed. As soon however, as the holder springs b are compressed by the action of the ram G, the spring 71 acts to force the holder pawls 6 open through the medium of the spring clips h as shown by Fig. 6.

To provide for the holder pawls reengaging with the post 5 for re-clamping the holders, the cam H is mounted on a stud 7L attached to the framework of the machine, and is held normally against a stop by the spring h. Said cam H is provided with a set screw 7L8 for engaging with the back of the rocking lever e and as the latter oscillates to its back position for engaging the notched plate e the cam H turns slightly on the stud it so that the roller h moves rapidly from the high part to the low part of the cam H. This movement is sufficient to withdraw the spring clips h* from the position shown in Fig. 6, and move the pawls 6 into engagement with post b This action takes place immediately after the second lift of the ram G for re-clamping the holder, and as soon as the ram G descends leaving the holder clamped the next quarter movement of the transfer appliance D takes place.

The ram G has a greater movement at the filling end than at the changing end of the machine to separate the holder plates enough to give the attendant room for spreading the flax in the holders. \Vhereas at the changing end it is only necessary to separate the plates enough to allow of the flax being drawn through to a new position. The rocking lever g link bell crank lever g and link 9, by which this extra long movement is gained at the filling end, are not sufficiently powerful to compress the holder springs 21, and the necessary pressure is gained for the successive compressions by the projections g on the cam wheel act ing on the roller g at the end of the lever 9 Or any other suitable means may be used of imparting the requisite powerful finishing stroke to the ram G for compressing the holder springs 2).

At the changing end of the machine, Figs. 3 and 4:, mechanism is provided for readjusting the stricks of flax in the holders by drawing them through the holders the required distance. This mechanism comprises two levers Z Z mounted for convenience on the ram lifting lever g (though they might as readily be mounted upon the machine distance.

frame) the lever Z being provided with a V gripping plate Z and the lever Z with a gripping plate Z On one side of the lever Z a stud Z projects. The levers Z and Z are operated by a cam whee-l M with studs or rollers m m projecting from its face and by a cam piece Z on the back of a lever Z with which the rollers m m on the cam wheel M successivly engage. The lever Z is mounted upon the same stud as the levers Z and Z and carries a hooked catch or pawl Z capable of engaging the stud Z on the lever Z. A compression spring Z working on a radius rod Z connects the lever Z with the lever Z so that the forward movement of the lever Z also moves forward the lever Z. As the cam plate M rotates, the roller m engages the under side of the cam piece Z on the lever Z and moves the latter forward until the gripping plate Z on the lever Z comes into contact with the gripping plate Z on the lever Z, gripping the flax between them, pressure being supplied by compression of spring Z situated between the lever Z and the lever Z at the same time the catch Z falls over the stud Z and locks the two levers together. The roller m now engages the upper side of the cam piece Z and draws the two levers Z and Z backward with the flax gripped between them, pulling the flax through the holder B the desired The catch Z is released from the stud Z by an adjustable stop Z coming into contact with the lever g when the levers Z and Z remain in position by their own weight and the lever Z is returned to its original position by the spring Z which holds a toe on the end of the lever Z against a stop pin Z on the lever 9 To facilitate the removal of the finished stricks of flax and the replacing of same by fresh st-ricks at the filling end of the machine, the flax holder B may be rotated into a position in the holder (Z at the extremity of the cross arms (Z0Z such that the attendant stands facing the machine when removing and replacing the stricks instead of partly in the path of the arms d (Z (Z tZ", one such arrangement being shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The transfer appliance D is mounted as hereinbefore described on stud E. Each holder carrier (Z is connected to the end of a rotary shaft (Z mounted in the cross arms in suitable bearings (Z6 and (Z On the stud E a bevel gear a is fixed and on the inner end of each shaft (Z5 a bevel gear (Z is mounted in mesh with the fixed bevel gear 6*. The gears (Z are each secured to its shaft by a sliding key a to permit of the longitudinal movement of the shaft. The holder carrier (Z is mounted in a bush (Z in the bearing (Z the shaft being connected to the carrier (Z by a sliding key (Z The shaft (Z has a longitudinal movement as before described to bringthe clips h into en'- gagement with the holder p'awls b. The bevel gears e and 0Z have an equal number of teeth and, as the gears 6Z8 rotate around the fixed gear 6 the holder carrier d and holder 13 are turned one quarter of a revolution for each forward movement of the transfer appliance D, thereby bringing the holders into the desired positions.

To lock the transfer appliance D in position of rest or dwell, a latch or lever N is pivoted to the frame on a bracket n and each arm cZ(Z is provided with a stop-pin n which, as the arms rotate, successively raises the latch N and is locked by its ell-- gagement in the notch n in said latch. The latch N is connected with the rod f, by which the pawl e is operated, by a red a with a. nut n resting on a collar a. When therefore the rod f is raised to ive the next movement to the apparatus, the latch N is raised and the arm released.

To prevent the transfer appliance D from overrunning the position of rest, owing to its momentum, a brake P is applied to the circular ring D. The brake P comprises a brake block 7) attached to a spring or lever 79 with a rod 72 connected to the lever 7". As the lever f finishes its downward stroke the rod 79 is drawn downward and the spring 72* applies the brake to bring the transfer apparatus quickly to rest.

, Each of the arms (Z to (Z of the transfer appliance D at the feed end of the machine, Figs. 1 and 2, is provided with a flax rod R pivoted on a stud or pin a" in boss a, these rods serving to support the free ends of the stricks during the movements of the transfer arms from horizontal to vertical position, in which latter position the holders are unfastened. To the pin a a lever r is attached with a roller 1' at its free end. As the arm approaches its bottom position the roller r engages a stationary cam 1* and lifts the rod R from the position shown in dotted lines into that shown in full lines. hen the lever 1* leaves the cam 1 the spring r returns the flax rod to its original position.

In case for any reason, the spring clips it fail to move the holder pawls 6 into engagement with the post Z2 at the proper time, a stop motion is provided to move the driving belt on to the loose pulley t and stop the machine. A lever S is mounted on a stud 8 attached to the machine framework, and is provided with a projection s at its lower end, which, in case the pawls 6 do not engage with post If, 2'. 6., if the rod 72. does not slide inward toward the central stud E, is engaged by the roller it at the end of the lever 7L2. This imparts a slight rocking movement to the lever S which is communicated by means of a link 8 bell crank lever s and link 8 to a toggle joint 8 The toggle joint 3 acts ordinarily to keep the belt on the fast pulley T, but when the toggle joint is broken by the link s a spring 8 acts on a lever s to move the belt fork rod 8 endwise in its bearings s to shift the belt onto the loose pulley 23. Or any other suitable method may be used for moving the driving belt onto the loose pulley in case the holder clamping mechanism fails to act. Bell crank s is mounted on a fixed pivot, not shown, fastened in. any desired manner to gable A.

At the changing end of the machine, Figs. 3 and at, a pan 7" is aflixed to the flax rod R, but in this case there is no movement of the pan 9* relative to the arm it not being required owing to the short traverse of the ram G in opening the flax holder B.

It is to be understood that though it is considered preferable at present to construct the transfer for apparatus with four radial cross arms having the carriers for the flax holders at their extremities, such carriers may be mounted on a rotary wheel, or on a rotary ring such as described in the specification of Eves Patent 662117 in such case however the ring would be of sufficient size to extend from one main channel to the other and the cross channel and turntables therein described would be dispensed with.

Although the apparatus is designed for working with the above described special holders, the rotary transfer appliance may be employed with screwing and unscrewing mechanism of the nature described in specification 775352. Such mechanism could be readily substituted for the ram G or, in case of a rotary ring, may be placed inside the ring.

What I claim as my invention and desire to protect by Letters Patent is 1. In automatic hackling machines, the combination, with two hackling machines and the flax holders therefor, of a rotary device placed at the end of the machines for transferring the holders in a vertical plane from one machine to the other, a plurality of carriers for the flax holders mounted on said transfer device, and means for releasing the fibers, readjust-ing them in position and reclamping them in the holders, substantially as described.

2. A transfer mechanism for hackling machines comprising, in its construction, a rotary device for transferring the holders in a vertical plane from one machine to the other, a plurality of carriers to receive flax holders mounted on said transfer device, means for unclamping the holders, means for readjusting the flax fibers in the holders, and means for re-clamping the holders, substantially as described.

3. In automatic hackling machines, the combination, with two hackling machines and flax holders therefor provided with pawls, of a rotary device for transferring the holders in a vertical plane from one machine to the other, carriers mounted on said transfer device, a corresponding number of reciprocating rods having clips at their extremities toengage the pawls of the holders, and means to reciprocate the rods, substantially as described.

1. In automatic hackling machines, the combination, with two hackling machines and flax holders therefor, of a rotary device for transferring the holders in a vertical plane from one machine to the other, a plurality of holder carriers mounted on said transfer device, rotary shafts to which the carriers are attached, and means for rotating said shafts at intervals, substantially as described.

5. In automatic hackling machines, the combination, with two hackling machines and flax holders therefor, of a rotary device for transferring the holders in a vertical plane from one machine to the other, a plurality of holder carriers mounted on said transfer device, rotary shafts to which the carriers are attached, bevel gears on the inner ends of such shafts, and a stationary bevel gear around which the first-named gears revolve to give a rotary movement to the shafts and holders, substantially as described.

6. In automatic hackling machines, the combination, with two hackling machines and flax holders therefor provided with pawls of a rotary transfer device compris ing a plurality of radiating arms, holder carriers at the extremities of the arms, reciprocating rods having clips to engage the pawls of the holders, and means by which the rods are reciprocated and the device rotated, substantially as described.

7. In automatic hackling machines, the combination, with two hackling machines and flax holders therefor provided with pawls of a rotary transfer device comprising a plurality of radiating arms, holder carriers at the extremities of the arms, reciprocating rods having clips to engage the pawls of the holders, and a stationary cam by which the rods are reciprocated, substantially as described.

8. In automatic hackling machines, the combination, with two hackling machines and flax holders therefor provided with pawls and springs, of a rotary transfer device comprising a plurality of radiating arms, holder carriers at the extremities of the arms, reciprocating rods having clips to engage the pawls of the holders, means to operate the rods, a reciprocating member to compress the springs of the holders, and means to operate said member.

9. In automatic hackling machines, the combination with two hackling machines and flax holders therefor provided with pawls and springs, of a rotary transfer device comprising a plurality of radiating arms, holder carriers at the extremities of the arms, reciprocating rods having clips to engage the pawls of the holders, means to operate the rods, a reciprocating member to compress the springs of the holders, and a cam and lever to operate said member.

10. In automatic hackling machines, the combination, with two hackling machines and flax holders therefor, of a rotary device for transferring the holders in a vertical plane from one machine to the other, a plurality of holder carriers mounted on said transferdevice, rotary shafts to which the carriers are attached, means for rotating said shafts at intervals, and means by which the transfer device is given an intermittent rotary movement of one quarter revolution, substantially as described.

11. In automatic hackling machines, the combination, with two hackling machines and flax holders therefor, of a rotary device for transferring the holders in a vertical plane from one machine to the other, a plurality of holder carriers mounted on said transfer device, rotary shafts to which the carriers are attached, means for rotating said shafts at intervals, and mechanism for drawing through and readjusting the stricks of flax in the holders, substantially as described.

12. In automatic hackling machines, the combination, with two hackling machines and flax holders therefor, of a rotary device for transferring the holders in a vertical plane from one machine to the other, a plurality of holder carriers mounted on said transfer device, rotary shafts to which the carriers are attached, means for rotating said shafts at intervals, means for unclamping the holders, and means for drawing through and readjusting the stricks of flax in the holders and for reclamping the holders, substantially as described.

13. In automatic hackling machines, the combination, with two hackling machines and flax holders therefor, of a rotary device for transferring the holders in a vertical plane fron one machine to the other, a plurality of holder carriers mounted on said transfer device, rotaryshafts to which the carriers are attached, means for rotating said shafts at intervals, means by which the transfer device is given an intermittent rotary movement of one quarter revolution, and locking mechanism to hold the transfer device during the period of rest, substantially as described.

14. In automatic hackling machines, the combination, with two hackling machines and flax holders thereof, of a rotary device for transferring the holders from one machine to the other, in a vertical plane, a plurality of holder carriers mounted on said transfer device, rotary shafts to which the carriers are attached, means for rotating said shafts at intervals, means by which the transfer device is given an intermittent r0- tary movement of one quarter revolution, a latch pivoted to the frame, a stop pin adapted to engage said latch for holding the transfer device during the period of rest, and a movable rod to release the latch, substantially as described.

15. In automatic hackling machines, the combination, with two hackling machines and flax holders therefor, of a rotary device for transferring the holders from one machine to the other, in a vertical plane, a plurality of holder carriers mounted on said transfer device, rotary shafts to which the carriers are attached, means for rotating said shafts at intervals, means by which the transfer device is given an intermittent rotary movement of one quarter revolution, means to lock the apparatus, and a brake to prevent overrunning of the rotary parts, substantially as described.

16. In automatic hackling machines, the combination, with two hackling machines and flax holders therefor, of a rotary transfer device including an annular part, a plurality of holder carriers mounted on said transfer device, rotary shafts to which the carriers are attached, means for rotating said shafts at intervals, means by which the transfer device is given an intermittent r0- tary movement of one quarter revolution, means to lock the apparatus, a break block mounted adjacent to said annular part, a lever for rotating said transfer device, a lever for operating said brake block, and a rod connecting the brake lever with the first named lever, substantially as described.

17. In automatic hackling machines, the combination, with two hackling machines and flax holders therefor, of a rotary device for transferring the holders in a vertical plane from one machine to the other, a plurality of holder carriers mounted on said transfer device, means for opening and releasing and reclamping the holders, and means for stopping the apparatus in case the holder re-clamping mechanism fails to act, substantially as described.

18. In automatic hackling machines, the combination, with two hackling machines and flax holders therefor, of means for opening and releasing and reclamping the holders, a rotary transfer device, a lever provided with a projection, a roller with which the projection engages in case the holder is not properly reclamped, a driving belt, fast and loose pulleys around which one end of said belt passes, and links, levers and springs to transfer the driving belt from the fast pulley onto the loose pulley, substantially as described.

19. In automatic hackling machines, the combination, with two hackling machines and flax holders therefor, of a rotary device for transferring the holders in a vertical plane from one machine to the other, means for opening and releasing and reclamping the holders, substantially as described.

20. In automatic hackling machines, the combination, with two hackling machines and flax holders therefor, of a rotary transfer device, means for opening the holders and releasing the flax, a pair of flax-clamping levers, a cam for operating the levers, a lever upon which the cam acts and a spring to connect the second-named lever with one of the first-named levers, substantially as described.

21. In automatic hackling machines, the combination, with two hackling machines and flax holders therefor, of a rotary transfer device, means for opening the holders and releasing the flax, a pair of flax-clamping levers, a cam for operating the levers, a lever upon which the cam acts, a spring to connect the second-named lever with one of the first-named levers, and a hook by which the pair of first-named levers are clamped upon the flax, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 9th day of February, 1911.

JAMES ALEXANDER McKEE.

Witnesses:

R. R. FRASER, JOSEPH YEGART.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. 

